Give From a Willing Heart
ICS Daily Devotions
Exodus 35:29 (NKJV) The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the LORD, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.
In the Old Testament, one of the greatest challenges was removing “Egypt” from the hearts of the Israelites. For New Testament believers, the challenge is similar: to uproot any trust in mammon from our hearts. God created us with the freedom to choose—believers and unbelievers alike. Before we were saved, we made choices based on our own desires and understanding. Because we have to live with the consequences of those decisions made without God, we must choose to follow what the Bible teaches.
The Israelites had to decide whether they wanted to bring the freewill offering to the Lord, as commanded by Moses, for the building of the tabernacle. They came with willing hearts to offer different materials. While Old Testament saints were building the tabernacle as a temporary place of worship, we are building the church of the living God. Therefore, we are expected to give freewill offerings out of a willing heart for the development of the church and the preaching of the gospel.
Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Scripture teaches us that God is not mocked—whatever we sow, we will also reap. Some of the financial losses we experience, such as poor investments or unwise decisions, may be the result of sowing to the flesh rather than walking in step with the Spirit. As believers, we can either yield to Scripture and the conviction of the Holy Spirit or the works of the flesh. God, through His Word and His Spirit, continually calls us to choose life—to submit to the Lordship of Christ and walk in obedience. Therefore, the key is to yield to the Holy Spirit, be obedient to His Word, and deny the flesh.
We are stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. We may declare that God is good and faithful, but the corresponding action based on these convictions is giving. The true test of our dependency on God is giving from a heart of obedience, trusting that He is good. This is tested every time we give our tithe and are prompted to make freewill offerings.
Reflection: Are you giving with a willing heart, or holding back out of fear or trust in money? In your financial decisions, are you following the Holy Spirit or relying on your understanding?
Sermon Series： Our Free Will Offering
